Special Police Constables (SPCs) recruited to support security operations during Uganda’s 2026 General Elections say they have not received their full pay months after the polls.

Several SPCs who were not retained by the Uganda Police Force after the elections claim they were either underpaid or have not been fully compensated for the three-month contracts they were offered.

Some of the affected officers say they are still holding onto police uniforms issued to them during their deployment, arguing that the uniforms serve as evidence that they have outstanding payments.

Ron Turusi, a resident of Ntinda in Nakawa Division under Kira Road Police Division, said similar complaints are being shared by former SPCs across the country through WhatsApp groups.

According to Turusi, most of the affected officers have received payment for only one or two months despite having served for the full contractual period.

He said that while the Electoral Commission paid the allowances for SPCs deployed at polling stations, most of their grievances concern payments expected from the police.

Turusi also alleged that some former SPCs have been threatened when they return to the police divisions where they were deployed to inquire about their outstanding payments.

Isma Sseruwagi, another SPC who was deployed to guard Kyanja Muslim Polling Station, said he was paid for only January despite serving under a three-month contract.

Sseruwagi claimed that some of his colleagues have not received any payment at all. He said several former SPCs are still holding the police uniforms issued to them because they have not received their full dues.

He called on Minister of State for Local Government Balaam Barugahara to intervene and investigate what he described as possible corruption within the police over the alleged non-payment of SPCs.

In October 2025, the Uganda Police Force recruited about 100,000 Special Police Constables to support security operations during the election period.

The recruits underwent one month of basic training before being deployed on three-month contracts at a monthly salary of Shs496,000.

The Electoral Commission also provided SPCs deployed at polling stations with a daily allowance of Shs75,000.

Following the elections, the police retained a number of SPCs for further training, armed some of them and deployed them to permanent stations, while others were demobilised.

The affected former SPCs are now demanding that the police settle all outstanding payments and provide an explanation for the delays.

End